Hey Dag, Is the remastering really noticable enough to purchase this release yet again or would it be best to just keep the original and go to iTunes or a friend and get the extra tracks instead?

I ask because when it comes to reissues, I've become really tired over the years of buying the same titles again and again due to claims that they've been remixed or remastered, only to find the difference in the "remastered" sound to be extremely slight to not noticable at all.

Wanna thank Dagmar for comfirming the suspicions on the Exile release. Borrowed a copy the other day and the remastering job is really nothing special at all. Unless you're a collector, I'd recommend keeping your original copy you and getting the extra tracks elsewhere for a fraction of the cost of this rerelease.

New Teenage Fanclub album, their first in more than 5 years, just released in the USA.

Quick thoughts:

No major surprises here, it's the same Big Star/Byrds/Beach Boys mix that they've been messing with for the past four albums. That means the top notch, trademark three-part harmonies, jangly leads and rhythms, catchy hooks and melodies are all still present and accounted for. They are getting softer in their approach however and at times almost come across as echoing mid-70's California soft rock Frankensteins like Firefall and Pablo Cruise. A track here and there faintly recalls the old days of Thirteen (mainly "Shock And Awe" ), but fans of the early albums will be just as disappointed by this as they have been with the Fanclub's releases since 1995.
The rest is graceful, classic guitar pop by nothing short of grade A craftsmen. The type of thing that has become a true anachronism these days.